Scholarlink

<p>This study investigated whether dog ownership and exercise self-efficacy were associated with physical activity in Japanese office workers, and whether these associations differed across restrictive contexts (pre-, during-, and post-COVID-19). A web-based questionnaire was administered to Japanese office workers between August and November 2023. Basic characteristics, physical activity level, dog ownership, and exercise self-efficacy were obtained using the recall method at three time points: before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Dog-walking activity and self-efficacy, and dog-related obligations were assessed among dog owners. A two-way repeated measures analysis of covariance was conducted to examine the effects of time and dog ownership on physical activity. A mediation analysis was conducted to confirm the mediating effect of exercise self-efficacy. A total of 414 responses were analyzed. Physical activity levels decreased from pre- to during-COVID-19, then partially rebounded post-COVID-19 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001); the pattern of change differed depending on dog ownership (<i>p</i> = 0.043). A full mediation effect of exercise self-efficacy was observed before the pandemic (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Among dog owners, dog-walking activity was influenced by dog walking self-efficacy at the three time points (before: β = 0.418, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001; during: β = 0.401, <i>p</i> = 0.001; after: β = 0.373, <i>p</i> = 0.001). Dog ownership appeared to buffer pandemic-related declines in physical activity, facilitated by exercise self-efficacy; this supported a rapid recovery in physical activity. These findings highlight the importance of structured caregiving routines, such as dog walking, as a resilient strategy for maintaining physical activity in restrictive environments.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Effects of dog ownership and exercise self-efficacy on physical activity of Japanese office workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月17日

查看全文
  • Yutong Shi,
  • Xinyang Yu,
  • Risa Mitsuhashi,
  • Jiawei Wan,
  • Ryoko Mizushima,
  • Yoshio Nakata

摘要

This study investigated whether dog ownership and exercise self-efficacy were associated with physical activity in Japanese office workers, and whether these associations differed across restrictive contexts (pre-, during-, and post-COVID-19). A web-based questionnaire was administered to Japanese office workers between August and November 2023. Basic characteristics, physical activity level, dog ownership, and exercise self-efficacy were obtained using the recall method at three time points: before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Dog-walking activity and self-efficacy, and dog-related obligations were assessed among dog owners. A two-way repeated measures analysis of covariance was conducted to examine the effects of time and dog ownership on physical activity. A mediation analysis was conducted to confirm the mediating effect of exercise self-efficacy. A total of 414 responses were analyzed. Physical activity levels decreased from pre- to during-COVID-19, then partially rebounded post-COVID-19 (p < 0.001); the pattern of change differed depending on dog ownership (p = 0.043). A full mediation effect of exercise self-efficacy was observed before the pandemic (p < 0.001). Among dog owners, dog-walking activity was influenced by dog walking self-efficacy at the three time points (before: β = 0.418, p < 0.001; during: β = 0.401, p = 0.001; after: β = 0.373, p = 0.001). Dog ownership appeared to buffer pandemic-related declines in physical activity, facilitated by exercise self-efficacy; this supported a rapid recovery in physical activity. These findings highlight the importance of structured caregiving routines, such as dog walking, as a resilient strategy for maintaining physical activity in restrictive environments.